PIONEER EDGE NEWS SERVICE /Dehradun
To increase pulse production in the district, the Dehradun district administration has accelerated preparations to implement the AgriStack scheme under the Digital Agriculture Mission. The administration has set a target to nearly triple pulse production by 2030-31.
On Tuesday, the Dehradun district magistrate Ashish Chauhan directed the Agriculture Department to identify clusters for growing pulses. He also asked officials to prepare micro-plans for increasing the area under pulse cultivation.
The administration will focus on Arhar, Urad and Masoor. Officials have also been asked to create digital records of farmers and their agricultural land under the AgriStack scheme. The system will help provide agricultural services to farmers more quickly and transparently.
Chief agriculture officer Devendra Rana said that Urad is currently grown on 470 hectares and produces 274 metric tonnes. The target is to increase this to 754 hectares and 765 metric tonnes by 2030-31.
Arhar is currently grown on 286 hectares, with production of 367 metric tonnes. The target is to increase its area to 457 hectares and production to 686 metric tonnes.
Masoor is currently grown on 242 hectares and produces 146 metric tonnes. The target is to increase its area to 427 hectares and production to 453 metric tones.
The DM said that farmers should be encouraged to use improved seeds and modern farming methods. He also directed officials to promote intercropping. Farmers will be encouraged to grow pulses in the vacant spaces between sugarcane rows.
The administration said that it also plans to bring unused agricultural land under cultivation. Pulses will also be included in the traditional rice-wheat crop cycle. Officials said this could improve soil fertility and increase farmers income.
